HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC2001-008 Staff Report and Recommendations Prepared by Anne Guthrie 07/23/2001STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PREPARED BY: V. Anne Guthrie DATE: 23 July 2001
APPLICANT: City of Little Rock -- CURRAN HALL
ADDRESS: 600 Ferry
COA REQUEST: New construction of a parking lot (17 spaces) for the Visitor's Center
PROJECT BACKGROUND, DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS: The subject property is
located north of I-630 and MacArthur Park, on the southwest corner of 6th and Ferry streets. The
subject property is located approximately 100 feet southeast from Curran. The site was purchased
in 1996 for parking for the city's visitor's center, Curran Hall at 615 E. Capitol, which is the
district's oldest structure. It is in process of being rehabilitated, with completion in August.
The subject property consists of three lots and has been vacant for several decades. The
surrounding area land use is as follows: a county office west of Curran; an office and single-
family on the northwest corner of 6th and Ferry; two apartments to the west on the south side of
6th; and four single-family houses south on Ferry.
The project request involves the construction of a new parking lot to serve as parking for Curran,
which is across the street. The concrete parking lot has fourteen parking spaces, at 45' angle,
with four parallel or pull -in spaces for RVs along the west side. Each 45' space is 9' x 18.9' with
nine spaces along the east side; the remaining five spaces are in the middle, with a landscaped
island on each end (north and side). There are two curb cuts: one on 6th, which is 28' wide and
approximately 32' from the corner at Ferry; the cut on Ferry is 16' wide and located on the
southern end. A six foot wooden privacy fence is planned along the west; an existing privacy
fence is on the south. The lot meets city's standards for landscaping of parking lots.
The district's design guidelines for parking lots, on page 45, state that the lot:
+ should not be located in front yards of houses ................... project complies
+ should be gravel or smooth concrete instead of asphalt, aggregate or brick for
houses .................................................... project complies
+ should be screened through plantings of hedges, shrubs, trees or fences at edges
and in medians within ....................................... project complies
for commercial uses:
+ should be located in rear yards if possible, but when necessary in a side yard,
should be located no closer than the front wall of the structure ......... not applicable
+ on vacant lots between buildings should align edge screening with front facades
of adjacent buildings .. project does not comply
+ on corner lots should have edge screening on both the primary and secondary
streets .................................................... project complies
The project complies with four out of five criteria; one criteria does not apply.
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there was one
objection to the applicant's request -- a letter from the QQA is attached for your review.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: It is staff recommendation that the request for parking on
6th and Ferry streets be approved conditionally:
0 should there be alterations prior to or during construction, staff will be
notified and appropriate actions taken
0 landscaping will be maintained properly and property kept neat and
orderly
0 when the Visitor's Center is closed, parking will be available to
neighborhood residents